An overview of SARS-CoV2 natural infections in companion animals: A systematic review of the current evidence.

This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals. The findings show that these infections are relatively rare. Among the examined dogs, only 1.32% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while for cats, the rate was 1.55%. Infections in rabbits and ferrets were even less common, at less than 1%. These results support previous research indicating the infrequency of natural infections in companion animals. The review also includes updated studies that involved various pets, such as cats, dogs, ferrets, and rabbits. The majority of the studies analyzed were primarily concerned with screening pets that visited veterinary clinics, regardless of whether they showed any specific signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Only a limited number of studies investigated infections in animals suspected of being in contact with owners or other animals that had COVID-19 or were exhibiting symptoms. The most common variant identified among the SARS-CoV-2 variants in the reviewed studies was B.1.1.7 (alpha), followed by B.1.617.2 (delta), B.1.526 (Iota), and others. The emergence of these variants raises concerns about their potential for increased transmissibility and virulence, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections in both humans and animals. Furthermore, most of the reviewed studies indicated that infected pets either showed no symptoms or experienced mild symptoms. This aligns with previous reports suggesting that animals infected with SARS-CoV-2 generally have less severe illness compared to humans. However, it is essential to recognize the possibility of severe illness or death in animals, particularly those with underlying health conditions. Continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals is crucial for better understanding the virus's epidemiology in animals and developing effective strategies to protect both animal and human health.

Beyond prediction: unveiling the prognostic power of µ-opioid and cannabinoid receptors, alongside immune mediators, in assessing the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore the potential of utilizing the expression levels of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), µ-opioid receptor (MOR), MCP-1, IL-17, IFN-γ, and osteopontin as predictors for the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The overarching goal is to delineate the pathogenic mechanisms associated with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Using quantitative Real-time PCR, we analyzed the gene expression levels of CB2 and MOR in nasopharynx specimens obtained from patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 46 individuals classified as having severe symptoms and 46 as non-severe. Additionally, we measured the circulating levels of MCP-1, IL-17, IFN-γ, and osteopontin using an ELISA assay. We examined the predictive capabilities of these variables and explored their correlations across all patient groups. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated a significant increase in MOR gene expression in the epithelium of patients with severe infection. The expression of CB2 receptor was also elevated in both male and female patients with severe symptoms. Furthermore, we observed concurrent rises in MCP-1, IL-17, IFN-γ, and osteopontin levels in patients, which were linked to disease severity. CB2, MOR, MCP-1, IL-17, IFN-γ, and osteopontin showed strong predictive abilities in distinguishing between patients with varying degrees of SARS-CoV-2 severity. Moreover, we identified a significant correlation between CB2 expression and the levels of MOR, MCP-1, osteopontin, and IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the interconnected nature of molecular mediators in a sequential manner, suggesting that their overexpression may play a role in the development of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Global, regional, and national disease burden estimates of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in children younger than 5 years in 2019: a systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory infection in young children. We previously estimated that in 2015, 33·1 million episodes of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection occurred in children aged 0-60 months, resulting in a total of 118 200 deaths worldwide. Since then, several community surveillance studies have been done to obtain a more precise estimation of RSV associated community deaths. We aimed to update RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection morbidity and mortality at global, regional, and national levels in children aged 0-60 months for 2019, with focus on overall mortality and narrower infant age groups that are targeted by RSV prophylactics in development. METHODS: In this systematic analysis, we expanded our global RSV disease burden dataset by obtaining new data from an updated search for papers published between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2020, from MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Web of Science, LILACS, OpenGrey, CNKI, Wanfang, and ChongqingVIP. We also included unpublished data from RSV GEN collaborators. Eligible studies reported data for children aged 0-60 months with RSV as primary infection with acute lower respiratory infection in community settings, or acute lower respiratory infection necessitating hospital admission; reported data for at least 12 consecutive months, except for in-hospital case fatality ratio (CFR) or for where RSV seasonality is well-defined; and reported incidence rate, hospital admission rate, RSV positive proportion in acute lower respiratory infection hospital admission, or in-hospital CFR. Studies were excluded if case definition was not clearly defined or not consistently applied, RSV infection was not laboratory confirmed or based on serology alone, or if the report included fewer than 50 cases of acute lower respiratory infection. We applied a generalised linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) to estimate RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection incidence, hospital admission, and in-hospital mortality both globally and regionally (by country development status and by World Bank Income Classification) in 2019. We estimated country-level RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection incidence through a risk-factor based model. We developed new models (through GLMM) that incorporated the latest RSV community mortality data for estimating overall RSV mortality. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021252400). FINDINGS: In addition to 317 studies included in our previous review, we identified and included 113 new eligible studies and unpublished data from 51 studies, for a total of 481 studies. We estimated that globally in 2019, there were 33·0 million RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes (uncertainty range [UR] 25·4-44·6 million), 3·6 million RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection hospital admissions (2·9-4·6 million), 26 300 RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection in-hospital deaths (15 100-49 100), and 101 400 RSV-attributable overall deaths (84 500-125 200) in children aged 0-60 months. In infants aged 0-6 months, we estimated that there were 6·6 million RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes (4·6-9·7 million), 1·4 million RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection hospital admissions (1·0-2·0 million), 13 300 RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection in-hospital deaths (6800-28 100), and 45 700 RSV-attributable overall deaths (38 400-55 900). 2·0% of deaths in children aged 0-60 months (UR 1·6-2·4) and 3·6% of deaths in children aged 28 days to 6 months (3·0-4·4) were attributable to RSV. More than 95% of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection episodes and more than 97% of RSV-attributable deaths across all age bands were in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). INTERPRETATION: RSV contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality burden globally in children aged 0-60 months, especially during the first 6 months of life and in LMICs. We highlight the striking overall mortality burden of RSV disease worldwide, with one in every 50 deaths in children aged 0-60 months and one in every 28 deaths in children aged 28 days to 6 months attributable to RSV. For every RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection in-hospital death, we estimate approximately three more deaths attributable to RSV in the community. RSV passive immunisation programmes targeting protection during the first 6 months of life could have a substantial effect on reducing RSV disease burden, although more data are needed to understand the implications of the potential age-shifts in peak RSV burden to older age when these are implemented. FUNDING: EU Innovative Medicines Initiative Respiratory Syncytial Virus Consortium in Europe (RESCEU).

SARS-CoV-2 intrahost evolution in immunocompromised patients in comparison with immunocompetent populations after treatment.

Many evidence suggests that long-lasting infection can develop with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This occurrence has been widely described in immunocompromised individuals. In these patients, ineffective clearance of virus infection provides an opportunity for developing immune escape mutants. This study aimed to characterize SARS-CoV-2 intrahost evolution in five immunocompromised in comparison with five immunocompetent COVID-19 patients during treatment. We performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) on collected two oropharyngeal samples from immunocompromised and immunocompetent COVID-19 patients before and after treatment. In this study, we detected alpha and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. The most common substitutions in structural proteins in patients with alpha variant were S-ΔY143-144, A570D, D614G and D1118H, and N-R203K and G204R, and in delta variant S-T19R, G142D, E156G, 157-158del, L452R, T478K, D614G, D950N and N-D63G, R203M and D377Y were dominant. The common variations in nonstructural and accessory proteins including nsp3-A488S, P1228L, nsp6-T77A, nsp12-P323L, G671S, nsp13-P77L, NS3-S26L, and NS7a-T120I were detected. Also some infrequent substitutions were seen in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. After treatment, nsp12-V166A was emerged as a remdesivir resistance and S-L452M in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency. S-E484Q was detected in a patient with acute lymphoma leukemia. This study showed the possibility of the genetic diversity and development of some new mutations in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, surveillance of these patients to characterize any new variants is necessary.

The antitumor effect of oncolytic respiratory syncytial virus via the tumor necrosis factor-alpha induction and ROS-bax-mediated mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer represents one of the most prevalent cancers among women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income nations. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can infect cancer cells selectively and lethally without harming normal cells. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an oncolytic virus for anticancer therapy because of its propensity to multiply within tumor cells. This research aimed to assess the in vitro antitumor activities and molecular basis processes of the oncolytic RSV-A2 on the TC-1 cancer cells as a model for HPV­related cervical cancers. METHODS: Cellular proliferation (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were used to investigate the catalytic impacts of RSV-A2 by the ELISA method. Real-time PCR and flow cytometry assays were utilized to assess apoptosis, autophagy, intracellular concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cell cycle inhibition. RESULTS: Our MTT and LDH results demonstrated that TC-1 cell viability after oncolytic RSV-A2 treatment was MOI-dependently and altered significantly with increasing RSV-A2 virus multiplicity of infection (MOI). Other findings showed that the RSV-A2 potentially resulted in apoptosis and autophagy induction, caspase-3 activation, ROS generation, and cell cycle inhibition in the TC-1 cell line. Real-time PCR assay revealed that RSV-A2 infection significantly elevated the Bax and decreased the Bcl2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that oncolytic RSV-A2 has cytotoxic and inhibiting effects on HPV-associated cervical cancer cells. Our findings revealed that RSV-A2 is a promising treatment candidate for cervical cancer.

Diagnostic performance of a novel antigen-capture ELISA for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a serious health problem worldwide. Early virus detection is essential for disease control and management. Viral antigen detection by ELISA is a cost-effective, rapid, and accurate antigen diagnostic assay which could facilitate early viral detection. METHOD: An antigen-capture sandwich ELISA was developed using novel nucleocapsid (NP)-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The clinical performance of the assay was assessed using 403 positive and 150 negative respiratory samples collected during different SARS-CoV-2 variants outbreaks in Iran. RESULTS: The limit of detection of our ELISA assay was found to be 43.3 pg/ml for recombinant NP. The overall sensitivity and specificity of this assay were 70.72% (95% CI: 66.01-75.12) and 100% (95% CI: 97.57-100), respectively, regardless of Ct values and SARS-CoV-2 variants. There was no significant difference in our assay sensitivity for the detection of Omicron subvariants compared to Delta variant. Assay sensitivity for the BA.5 Omicron subvariant was calculated as 91.89% (95% CI: 85.17-96.23) for samples with Ct values < 25 and 82.70% (95% CI: 75.19-88.71) for samples with Ct values < 30. CONCLUSION: Our newly developed ELISA method is reasonably sensitive and highly specific for detection of SARS-CoV-2 regardless of the variants and subvariants of the virus.

Differential expression levels of ß-catenin are associated with invasive behavior of both functional and non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumor (PitNET).

BACKGROUND: Although research continues to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying pituitary tumor pathogenesis, limited information is available on the potential role and expression profile of ß-catenin in functional and non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). METHODS AND RESULTS: In the current study, 104 pituitary samples (tumors and cadaveric healthy pituitary tissues) were included and the gene and protein expression levels of ß-catenin were assessed by Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlation between expression level of ß-catenin and tumor invasive feature and size as well as patient age, gender, and hormonal level was measured. The data showed that PitNET samples expressed higher levels of the ß-catenin gene and protein compared to healthy pituitary tissues. Although there was no difference in ß-catenin expression level between non-functioning (NF-PitNETs) and growth hormone-producing tumors (GH-PitNETs), both tumor types showed significantly elevated ß-catenin levels compared to healthy pituitary tissues. The high level of ß-catenin in the invasive functional and non-functional tumors is indicative of the association of ß-catenin with PitNETs invasion. The expression pattern of the ß-catenin gene and protein was consistently and significantly associated with these tumor types. The correlation between ß-catenin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in GH-PitNETs indicates the potential relevance of ß-catenin and IGF-1 for GH-PitNETs. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous increase in the expression of ß-catenin gene and protein level in PitNET tissues and their relationship to the tumor severity indicates the possible contributing role of ß-catenin and its underlying signaling mediators in PitNET pathogenesis.

A delayed resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the COVID-19 pandemic: An unpredictable outbreak in a small proportion of children in the Southwest of Iran, April 2022.

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an emerging disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and strict restrictions implemented to control the infection have impacted the circulation and transmission of common seasonal viruses worldwide and subsequently the rate of hospitalizations in children at young ages. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surprisingly disappeared in 2020-2021 in many countries due to lockdown and precautions were taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we showed a notable change in the rate of hospitalization and reported an unpredictable outbreak of RSV in a small proportion of children admitted to a children's hospital in Dezful (a city in Southwest Iran) in the early spring of 2022. We performed a descriptive study of hospitalized young children (aged ≤ 5 years) with acute respiratory infections. Together with clinical information, 30 nasopharyngeal swabs were prospectively collected and 3 important respiratory viruses (RSV, influenza viruses, and SARS-CoV-2) were tested through the real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method. The age distribution of 30 hospital-admitted children was 1 month to 5 years old and males were the most included subjects 18/30 (60%) in this study. Although the viral genome of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses was not detected, the presence of RSV was confirmed in 16/30 (53.33%) patients. Results showed that the majority of RSV-infected cases were males 10/16 (62.5%), within 12 months of life, and had changes in parameters of the complete blood count. Almost all patients with RSV infection had a cough as the most common clinical manifestation and had no history of past medical conditions as a risk factor. The presented study is the first investigation that documented an outbreak of RSV infection in young children reported since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran. Our cases highlight the potential threats of important but neglected pathogens during the ongoing pandemic as described here for RSV, which would be challenging by easing the preimposed restrictions.

The effects of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum loads on semen quality: Detection and quantitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: The loads of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma hominis (MH), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) may impact infertility, as well as cause risk of transmission. The quality and quantity of semen demonstrate male reproductive health. This study aimed to investigate the semen quality affected by CT, MH, and UU loads. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 130 semen samples, including infertile and fertile cases, were collected and analyzed. The whole genomic DNA was extracted, and the desired genes' plasmids were constructed. The CT, MH, and UU loads were quantified by real-time PCR. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 35.2 ± 6.8 years. CT, MH, and UU frequency were 9.2% vs. 3.1%, 15.4% vs. 3.1%, and 15.4 vs. 3.1% in infertile and fertile men, respectively. The mean loads of CT, MH, and UU in infertile men were 6.44 log10 copies/ml (range 5.31-7), 4.24 log10 copies/ml (range 3.37-4.7), and 6.94 log10 copies/ml (range 5.08-8.69) respectively, which was significantly higher than fertile men. The findings revealed a significant correlation between CT and UU loads and semen parameters, whereas the load of MH displayed significant effects just on sperm motility, morphology, and the number of leukocytes. CONCLUSION: The absence of clinical manifestations may not indicate the quality of semen. The pathogens' loads may significantly influence the quality and properties of male reproductive health.

Clinical and molecular aspects of human pegiviruses in the interaction host and infectious agent.

BACKGROUND: Human pegivirus 1 (HPgV-1) is a Positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) virus, discovered in 1995 as a Flaviviridae member, and the closest human virus linked to HCV. In comparison to HCV, HPgV-1 seems to be lymphotropic and connected to the viral group that infects T and B lymphocytes. HPgV-1 infection is not persuasively correlated to any known human disease; nevertheless, multiple studies have reported a connection between chronic HPgV-1 infection and improved survival in HPgV-1/HIV co-infected patients with a delayed and favorable impact on HIV infection development. While the process has not been thoroughly clarified, different mechanisms for these observations have been proposed. HPgV-1 is categorized into seven genotypes and various subtypes. Infection with HPgV-1 is relatively common globally. It can be transferred parenterally, sexually, and through vertical ways, and thereby its co-infection with HIV and HCV is common. In most cases, the clearance of HPgV-1 from the body can be achieved by developing E2 antibodies after infection. MAIN BODY: In this review, we thoroughly discuss the current knowledge and recent advances in understanding distinct epidemiological, molecular, and clinical aspects of HPgV-1. CONCLUSION: Due to the unique characteristics of the HPgV-1, so advanced research on HPgV-1, particularly in light of HIV co-infection and other diseases, should be conducted to explore the essential mechanisms of HIV clearance and other viruses and thereby suggest novel strategies for viral therapy in the future.

Up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in primary bone tumors and its association with tumor aggressiveness.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of primary skeletal tumors is crucial due to the tumor-related complications, incidence at a young age, and tumor recurrence. METHODS AND RESULTS: The local expression pattern of MMP-9 as an active matrix-degrading protease was detected in 180 bone tissues, including 90 tumors and 90 noncancerous tissues, utilizing real-time qRT-PCR at the mRNA level and immunohistochemistry at the protein level. The correlation of the MMP-9 expression level with the patient's clinical pathological characteristics and the aggressiveness of the tumor was evaluated. The diagnostic significance of MMP-9 and the model of association of variables and MMP-9 expression and their predictive values were determined. Mean mRNA expression was higher in all types of primary bone tumors than their paired non-cancerous tissues. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma expressed higher levels of MMP-9 compared to benign giant cell tumors, and the MMP-9 expression level was significantly correlated with the size, metastasis, and recurrence of the malignant tumor. A consistent expression pattern was demonstrated for MMP-9 protein levels in tissues. In addition, the MMP-9 gene and protein levels significantly discriminate between bone tumors and normal tissue, as well as benign and malignant tumors, and could predict potentially malignant traits such as tumor grade and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The data propose that MMP-9 may be involved in the proliferation and invasion of primary bone tumors and has the potential to monitor and treat the progression of malignant tumors.

Evaluation of the expression of necroptosis pathway mediators and its association with tumor characteristics in functional and non-functional pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenomas impose a burden of morbidity on patients and characterizing the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis received remarkable attention. Despite the appealing role of necroptosis as an alternative cell death pathway in cancer pathogenesis, its relevance to pituitary adenoma pathogenesis has yet to be determined that is perused in the current study. METHODS: The total number of 109 specimens including pituitary adenomas and cadaveric healthy pituitary tissues were enrolled in the current study. Tumor and healthy pituitary tissues were subjected to RNA extraction and gene analysis using Real-Time PCR. The expression levels of necroptosis markers (RIP1K, RIP3K and, MLKL) and their association with the patient's demographic features were evaluated, also the protein level of MLKL was assessed using immunohistochemistry in tissues. RESULTS: Based on our data, the remarkable reduction in RIP3K and MLKL expression were detected in nonfunctional and GH-secreting pituitary tumors compared to pituitary normal tissues. Invasive tumors revealed lower expression of RIP3K and MLKL compared to non-invasive tumors, also the attenuated level of MLKL was associated with the tumor size in invasive NFPA. The simultaneous down-regulation of MLKL protein in pituitary adenoma tissues was observed which was in line with its gene expression. While, RIP1K over-expressed significantly in both types of pituitary tumors which showed no significant correlation with patient's age, gender and tumor size in GHPPA and NFPA group. Notably, MLKL and RIP3K gene expression was significantly correlated in the GHPPA group. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, the reduced expression of necroptosis mediators (RIP3K, MLKL) in pituitary adenoma reinforces the hypothesis that the necroptosis pathway can be effective in regulating the proliferation and growth of pituitary tumor cells and tumor recurrence.

Evaluation of the expression pattern and diagnostic value of PPARγ in malignant and benign primary bone tumors.

PURPOSE: The quantifiable description of PPARγ expression pattern beside mechanistic in-vitro evidence will provide insights into the involvement of this mediator in tumor pathogenesis. This study is focused on illuminating the PPARγ gene and protein expression pattern, its association with tumor deterioration and its diagnostic value in different types of primary bone tumors. METHODS: The expression pattern of PPARγ was investigated in the 180 bone tissues including 90 bone tumor tissues and 90 non-cancerous bone tissues. The local PPARγ expression level was assessed using real-time qRT-PCR and the PPARγ protein expression pattern was measured using immunohistochemistry. The correlation of PPARγ expression level with patients' clinic-pathological features, also the value of the variables in predicting PPARγ expression level in tumors and the value of PPARγ to discriminate tumor subtypes were assessed. RESULTS: The mean PPARγ mRNA expression was significantly higher in bone tumors compared to healthy bone tissues, also the malignant tumors including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma had the elevated level of PPARγ mRNA compared to GCT tumors. Consistently, the protein expression of PPARγ in the tumor site was significantly higher in the bone tumors and malignant tumors compared to non-cancerous and benign tumors, respectively. The PPARγ protein could predict malignant tumor features including tumor grade, metastasis and recurrence significantly. Moreover, PPARγ could potentially discriminate the patients from the controls also malignant tumors from benign tumors with significant sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: PPARγ might be involved in primary bone tumor pathogenesis and determining its molecular mechanism regarding bone cancer pathogenesis is of grave importance.

Proposal for Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nomenclature below the Species Level.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the leading viral cause of serious pediatric respiratory disease, and lifelong reinfections are common. Its 2 major subgroups, A and B, exhibit some antigenic variability, enabling HRSV to circulate annually. Globally, research has increased the number of HRSV genomic sequences available. To ensure accurate molecular epidemiology analyses, we propose a uniform nomenclature for HRSV-positive samples and isolates, and HRSV sequences, namely: HRSV/subgroup identifier/geographic identifier/unique sequence identifier/year of sampling. We also propose a template for submitting associated metadata. Universal nomenclature would help researchers retrieve and analyze sequence data to better understand the evolution of this virus.

Hyperglycemia results in decreased immune cell infiltration and increased viral load in the lung in a mouse model of RSV infection.

Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a feared disease in vulnerable populations with impaired immune responses. There is currently no vaccine against RSV and young children along with elderly people are at increased risk of severe or sometimes life-threatening RSV infection. Hyperglycemia with immunomodulatory patterns can impact on infectious disease outcomes and immune system responses in diabetic patients. Even though research continues to uncover the complex mechanisms underlying RSV immunopathogenesis and diabetes mellitus disease separately, limited information is available about interaction between these two phenomena. Here, we evaluated the influence of hyperglycemia as the hallmark of diabetes mellitus disease on the pathogenesis and immunopathogenesis of RSV in a mouse model. In this experiment, hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ), and after diabetes confirmation, mice were infected with RSV-A2, and the immune responses were followed for 5 days until the mice were sacrificed. Analyses on airway immune cell influx, T-Lymphocyte subtypes, cytokines secretion, lung histopathology, and viral load were conducted. Our results showed that hyperglycemia resulted in reduced lung immune cells infiltration totally and it was associated with decreased pathological damage of the lung. Following RSV infection in hyperglycemic mice, the ratio of CD4/CD8 T-Lymphocytes due to CD8+ depletion, increased. Furthermore, the level of IFN-γ and IL-17A cytokines decreased, whereas IL-10 showed an upward trend and the viral load increased in hyperglycemic mice compared with normoglycemic mice. In conclusion, these findings indicate that hyperglycemia can ameliorate and downregulate RSV-induced inflammatory and antiviral responses, and result in increment of viral load.

Frequent detection of enterovirus D68 and rhinovirus type C in children with acute respiratory infections.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) and the emergence of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in children. A total of 322 nasopharyngeal swab samples were provided from children with an initial diagnosis of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. A total of 34 and 70 cases were positive for EV-D68 and HRV, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the clades A and B are the prevalent genotypes for EV-D68 and the HRV-positive samples belong to three types including HRV-A, HRV-B, and HRV-C. The results showed that EV-D68 and HRV-C are circulating in Iran especially in the winter.

Functional variation (Q63R) in the cannabinoid CB2 receptor may affect the severity of COVID-19: a human study and molecular docking.

Evidence supports a role of host genetic diversity in the clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Variation in the cannabinoid CB2 receptor gene (CNR2) could affect the regulatory action of endocannabinoids on the immune system, resulting in an increased risk of various inflammatory diseases. The present study investigated the relationship between the CNR2-Q63R variant and COVID-19 severity. A total of 200 Iranian COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study and genotyped using a TaqMan assay. The co-dominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant, and additive inheritance models were analyzed using SNPStats software. In silico molecular docking was also performed to simulate the effects of the Q63R variation on CB2 binding with a ligand and with the G-protein. A significant difference in the Q63R allele and genotype distribution was found between expired and discharged COVID-19 patients in co-dominant, recessive, and additive inheritance models. The molecular docking results showed that the predicted structure of mutant CB2 (63R type) could not bind to the G-protein in the correct position. The data indicated that the Q63R variation in the CNR2 gene may affect the severity of COVID-19. Identification of genes related to susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 may lead to specific targets for drug repurposing or development.

Up-regulation of sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) in growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenomas are benign brain tumors that cause considerable morbidity and neurological symptoms. SOX9 as a regulatory transcriptional mediator affects normal and tumor cell growth with an undefined role in pituitary adenomas pathogenesis. Thus, in the present study, the expression pattern of SOX9 in GH-secreting pituitary tumors and normal pituitary tissues is investigated. METHODS: The SOX9 gene expression level was evaluated in 60 pituitary tissues including different types of GH-secreting adenomas and normal pituitary tissues through Real-Time PCR. The protein level of SOX9 was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The correlations of SOX9 gene and protein expression level with the patient's clinical and pathological features were considered. RESULTS: The SOX9 over-expression was detected in GH-secreting adenomas tumor tissues compared to normal pituitary tissues which were accompanied by overexpression of SOX9 protein in tumor tissues. The over-expression of SOX9 had a significant impact on GH-secreting adenomas tumor incidence with the odds ratio of 8.4 and the diagnostic value of SOX9 was considerable. The higher level of SOX9 expression was associated with invasive and macro tumors in GH-secreting pituitary adenoma patients. The positive correlation of SOX9 gene and protein level was observed and the tumor size and tumor invasive features were valuable in predicting SOX9 expression level in GH-producing pituitary tumors. CONCLUSION: The study provided the first shreds of evidence regarding the expression pattern of SOX9 in the GH- secreting pituitary adenomas at both gene and protein levels which may emphasize the possible involvement of SOX9 as a mediator in pituitary adenoma tumor formation also open up new intrinsic molecular mechanism regarding pituitary adenoma pathogenesis.

15-Lipoxygenase and its metabolites in the pathogenesis of breast cancer: A double-edged sword.

15-lipoxygenase is one of the key enzymes for the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids that its manipulation has been proposed recently as a new molecular target for regulating cancer cell growth. Aberrant expression of 15-lipoxygenase enzyme seems to play an indicative role in the pathology of different cancer types, tumor progression, metastasis, or apoptosis. Based on the fact that breast cancer is one of the most common cancers that imposes a burden of mortality in women also, on the other hand, evidence in experimental models and human studies indicate the emerging role of the 15-lipoxygenase pathway in breast cancer pathogenesis, we present a review of recent findings related to the role of 15- lipoxygenase enzyme and metabolites in breast cancer growth, apoptosis, metastasis, and invasion as well as their local and circulating expression pattern in patients with breast cancer. Our review supports the emerging role of 15- lipoxygenase in molecular and cellular processes regulating breast tumor cell fate with both positive and negative effects.

Molecular characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 virus during co-circulation with newly-emerged highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 virus in Iran.

 Identification of molecular characteristics of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H9N2 virus provides insights into the evolution of this subtype due to the modulation of genomic characteristics in co-circulation with another subtype. The present study aimed to analyze the molecular and phylogenetic characteristics of the current LPAI H9N2 virus in characteristics of internal proteins are crucial for the adaptations of AIVs viruses to a new host. Since H9N2 is indigenous among poultry, continuous monitoring of viral genetic changes is needed for risk assessment of potential transmissibility to human population and emergence of new reassortant virus. domestic poultry during the emergence of new highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 virus in Iran. To this end, deep sequencing of LPAI H9N2 virus was performed on Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform and the complete sequences of avian influenza viruses were obtained from GISAID EpiFlu database. Phylogenetic analysis of the surface and internal gene segments showed that the H9N2 2018 virus was closely related to Pakistani H9N2 isolates. HA cleavage site motif sequence of the Iranian isolate was 317KSSR GLF323. The A/chicken/Iran/1/2018 H9N2 strain carried the amino acid substitution (Q216L), which is a mutation correlated with a shift in the affinity of the HA from avian type sialic receptors to human type. Besides surface glycoproteins, molecular. Keywords: A/H9N2; molecular characterization; A/H5N8; co-circulation; A/H5N1; Illumina MiSeq.